U.S. equities, oil, dollar, Treasurys rise in Q1

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Major asset classes tracked in the U.S. rose during the first quarter of 2010, in part as improving economic data indicated that the U.S. and other economies worldwide continue on the path of slow but steady recovery. Natural gas and the euro were some of the biggest losing investments. The S&P 500 Index
SPX, +0.04%
is up about 4.7%, rebounding from February lows "despite lingering fears regarding peripheral European sovereign credit risk and Asian tightening," wrote Alec Young, equity strategist at S&P Equity Research Services, in a note Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average
INDU, +0.05%
has gained nearly 4%. Treasurys of all maturities are on track for a 0.9% return so far in 2010, according to an index compiled by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Among resources, crude oil prices rose 5.5% and copper climbed 6.2%. Gold prices rose a more modest 1.7%, while natural gas tumbled 31%. The U.S. dollar index
DXY, +0.52%
gained 4% in the first quarter. The euro fell about 6% against the dollar.

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